Regulating device with torsion wire for clockwork



Nov. 18, 1958 c. VARAUD 2,860,580

REGULATING DEVICE WITH TORSION WIRE FOR CLOCKWORK Filed Aug. 5, 1955 WINK W INVENTOR 2 h 64,400: mam/p m a I 12? 7 I? ATTOR NEYS REGULATING nnvicn' WITH TORSION WIRE FOR CLOCKWORK 2 Claude Varaud, Geneva, Switzerland Application August 5, 1953, Serial No. 372,453 Claims priority, application Switzerland August 15, 1952 1: (CL-102 84) v The present invention concerns a regulating device having a torsion wire, for clockwork in general, but more particularly for a mechanical time-fuse.

Such types of regulator utilizing a metallic wire working by torsion for controlling the vibrations of the regulating balance-wheel are already known.

The torsion wire is, generally, fastened to the balancestaff, either directly or by means of a stud held by friction on one of the pivots of the said stafi.

From this fact, there result drawbacks which make the regulating of the vibrations of the torsion wire diflicult and expensive, becausethe balance-staff must, as is known, have a certain axial play between its two bushings.

As the torsion wire is fastened to the said staff, and as the free end of the wire must be strongly clamped, it is difficult to adjust this clamping of the wire so that the play of the balance-staff is adjusted between its two limits, in order that the latter can freely oscillate without undue friction. Failing to secure this result, the exact regulating of the vibrations and their isochronism are uncertain.

The object of the present invention, which aims at remedying these defects, is a balance-wheel regulating device, operated by a torsion wire, characterized in that: a torsion wire is mounted to be axially movable in the balance-staff, so that the axial play of the latter is free within its limits; that the said wire, by one of its ends, follows the angular displacement of the said balance-staff, while being capable of axially displacing itself in relation to the said staff; that the other free end of the said torsion wire is subjected to means for effecting the adjustment of the useful length of the wire, as well as to guiding and locking means, through which the adjustment of the vibrations of the said wire and its locking in adjusted position are assured during and at the end of the assembling in the workshop and, afterwards, under the effect of shooting the fuses fitted with the device in accordance with the invention.

The attached drawing shows, by way of example, and that, not exclusively, an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is an axial section on an enlarged scale of a clockwork frame to which is adapted the device in accordance with the invention, while Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively transverse cross-sections taken along lines 22 and 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a part front view on a larger scale of the device in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section and part front view on a larger scale of a modification of the device.

Referring to the drawing, a, b, 0, respectively indicate the frame, a plate and a drum of the clockwork to which is adapted the device in accordance with the invention, d shows the balance-staff or shaft, d a slot or slideway longitudinally milled in the latter, e a hollow guide inside which can freely slide a torsion wire or spring which, besides, co-operates with the slot d by its lower end f bent at right angle thereto. The wire 1 is guided in the axis of the frame of the clockwork by a tube h, housed in the axis of a screwed body g, acting as bushing for the UnitedStTates Patent 0 ice hollow guide e, and resting on a cylindrical block h h and i respectively indicate two guiding tubes secured to each other, the tube i, which comprises conical ends, cooperating with the corresponding conical rndsg and i of the two bodies g and j. In the upper end of the frame a is housed a body k, rotatively mounted, but retained by a screw a co-operating, for this purpose,with a groove k of the body k. i

In the upper end of the body k, Fig. l, is shown an embodiment of means through which the torsion wire 1 is respectively axially displacedand locked after adjusting the useful lengthin order to obtain the numberof vibrations in a defined lapse of time.

To this effect, the upper end of the torsion wire f, always guided in a tube h passes between two cylinders l and m,

provided each with a groove, 1 and m therearound and mounted rotatively through the body k.

The cylinder 1 is the controlling cylinder, of which the groove 1 is knurled in view of the axial displacement of the wire while the roller m is mounted for lateral displacement by means of a pressure screw 0 acting on the pivots m engaged in the body k, Fig. 2, so as to clamp the wire f, housed between the two grooves l and m of the cylinders l and m.

In turning, by means of a screw-driver engaged in the slot of the cylinder 1, the knurled part made in the groove 1 0f the latter, by penetrating slightly in the wire 1, compels the latter to displace itself axially without sliding.

The displacement of the wire 1 thus achieved changes the length (shortening or lengthening) of the point of fixation of the wire 1, situated between the cylinders l and m, and the point of linking of the bend f in the slot d of the staff or shaft d.

The length of the wire 1 being adjusted for the desired number of vibrations in a defined lapse of time, it is sufficient to utilize the additional locking means of the wire 7, Fig. 3, constituted by the socket p slit in shape of a V, the block q having a truncated pyramid shape and the clamping screw r, in order that, once the latter is tightened, the wire should be assured against any undue getting out of adjustment, both during handling in the workshop and under the effect of shooting the device fitted with the fuse in accordance with the invention.

In operation, after the structure as shown in Fig. 1 is assembled, the links of the torsion wire or spring 1 are adjusted by rotation of the cylinder b. The lower end of wire or spring fwill move axially in slot d of the balancestaff or shaft d, is being understood that when the balance wheel at rotates or oscillates, the lower end of the torsion wire f will rotate with it also. Thus, it may be seen that there is provided a spline connection which will permit relative axial movement of the spring and shaft while still connecting them together rotatively. The additional securing means provided by socket p, block q and clamping screw r may then be set, in order to further insure the securing of the upper end of the torsion wire In order to set .the escapement to the mark when the wire is clamped between the two cylinders l and m, it is sufficient to loosen the screws a and to turn the body k. After completion of the operation, it is necessary to retighten the screw a One can also add a second screw as supplementary precaution in order to block the abovementioned body k.

I torsion balance comprising a housing, a balance wheel having two oppositelj extending shafts in saidhousing, a torsion spring in said housing, means connecting ne.e nd:,of said springto one of said shafts for rotation therewith {said connecting means including ,an axially extending slideway in said one shaft, and means Qarried by the, spring. and" ext'ending into said slideway ,to'jpermit relative axialmovement of the spring and shaft,'1 a body mounted on said housing remote from said 'balance'wheel,

comprising a first cylinder rotatably mountedtransversely of'iafnd adjacent tosaid spring, said cylinder having fricti means: ex nd n a o he sa e en a' cab wit s a .-'spri ng, sccond cylinder mounted transversely of andadjacent to said' spring, andparallel to the axis of and.

saidibody to selectively axially move and hold' the other end of 'saidspring, saidl'a'st m'entioned means M w 2,860,580 r r oppositeto said first cylinder with respect to'said spring, and means to urge said second cylinder into contact with said'sp'ring; whereby said' spring may be axially adjusted by coaction with the friction means of said first cylinder when said first cylinder is rotated, and whereby adjustment of said spring may be maintained by 'a clamping of the spring between the cylinders.

li fe enc ze sd in s-fi i hi pat n UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,470 Schenk Mar. 7, 1939 2,226,669 Perrenoud Dec. 31, 1940 2,384,252 Honger 'Sept."-4, 1945 V V FOREIGN PATENTS 587,551 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1947 Y 

